As the year comes to an end it’s once again time to reflect on the past 12 months, and look into the crystal ball for 2015.
The 2014 UK season has got to have it – it was one of the worst summers and even autumns I’ve experienced so far. It could easily be a month without any decent wind so I’m lucky I could go on 3 kite trips all of which delivered plenty of riding. Despite that my progress didn’t quite reach to where I wanted it to be at the end of the year. I did learn some new tricks, especially kiteloops and surface passes, but I really wished for more unhooked progress. Practise and guts is all it takes I guess. Practise and more practise.
The team rider program with Switch ended which I felt quite dismayed about, but on the upside of things my girlfriend took her first lessons and is now up and riding independently without an instructor.
It was a great year for social kitesurfing with the London lift share booming. A lot of new cool people met, but also a few sad good byes to friends leaving town.
For 2015 there is a huge change in lifestyle coming up as I’m moving into freelancing at the beginning of the year. I would be lying if I said that kitesurfing has nothing to do with this move. Picture a lifestyle where you work for 2, 3 months and then take one month off and go on a kite trip and then repeat. That’s where I want to be, and 2015 is all about trying to make it happen.
Trick wish list for 2015 then?
- Darkslide
- Pop to blind
- Bigger kiteloops
- Consistency in raileys, back loops and front loops
2014 hard facts:
Days on the water: 44
Most used kite: Element 11m by far, followed by Element 15m
Countries surfed: 4 (England, Sweden, Spain, Egypt)
Thanks for great year. I hope to see all of you again in 2015! Thanks for the photos Ola and Asia.